German V Tutorial: Basic Phrases, Vocabulary and Grammar

81. Showing Purpose

Weil (because) + a dependent clause shows the
reason for an action; however, damit and um zu
(so that, in order to) show the goal of an action. Damit is also
followed by a dependent clause, whereas um zu introduces an infinitive.

Commonly, you use damit when the subject of the main clause
is different from the subject of the dependent clause, and um zu
when the understood subject of the infinitive is the same as the subject
of the main clause.

82. Shopping

box

die Schachtel

VCR

der Videorecorder

camera

die Kamera

video camera

die Videokamera

film

der Film

wristwatch

die Armbanduhr

handkerchief

das Taschentuch

perfume

das Parfüm

wallet

der Geldbeutel, die Geldbörse

radio

das Radio

razor

das Rasiermesser

size

die Größe

department (in store)

die Abteilung

greeting card

die Glückwunschkarte

83. Post Office and Bank

letter

der Brief

teller

der Kassierer (in)

postcard

die Postkarte

bill

der Schein

stamp

die Briefmarke

check

der Scheck

phone booth

die Telefonzelle

checkbook

das Scheckbuch

mailbox

der Briefkasten

ATM

der Geldautomat

mail slot

der Briefeinwurf

key

die Schlüssel

address

die Adresse

lock

das Schloß

sender/return address

der Absender

filing cabinet

der Aktenschrank

label

das Etikett

safety deposit box

das Bankschließfach

packing tape

das Paketklebeband

notepad

der Notizblock

package

das Paket

credit card

die Kreditkarte

postmark

der Poststempel

security camera

die Überwachungsanlage

rubber band

das Gummiband

security guard

die Wache

ink pad

das Stempelkissen

drive-thru window

der Autoschalter

string

die Schnur

safe

der Tresor

84. Zu with Infinitives

Infinitives are usually preceded by zu (except when
modals are used) when they act as complements of verbs, adjectives or
nouns. Zu + infinitive is always the last element in a sentence. If
a separable prefix is used in the infinitive, the zu is inserted between
the prefix and the stem.

Hast du Lust, den Dom zu besichtigen? Do you
feel like visiting the cathedral?
Es dauert lange, durch die Stadt zu fahren. It takes a long
time to drive through the city.
Es ist zu früh um aufzustehen. It is too early to get
up.

Um, ohne and anstatt can be used with zu as
well. They introduce infinitival clauses. Um.. zu is used
to indicate purpose, while ohne...zu and anstatt...zu are used with infinitives,
and translated as present participles in English. (Um...zu must
be used instead of just zu when the English equivalent "in order to" can
be used sensibly.)

Er kam, um das Buch abzuholen. He
came in order to pick up the book.
Sie sagte es, ohne mich anzusehen. She said
it, without looking at me.Statt hier zusitzen, sollten wir ihn suchen. Instead
of sitting here, we should look for him.

Sein + zu + an infinitive is used the same
way in English and German, but the construction is far more common in
German.

Das ist nicht zumachen. That
can't be done.
Das ist in jedem Laden zufinden. That can
be found in any store.

The verbs brauchen (to need) and scheinen (to
seem, appear) are often used with zu + an infinitive. Brauchen in the
negative is usually translated as to
not have to, and is the opposite of müssen.

Es scheint kaputt zusein.
It seems to be broken.
Ich brauche heute nicht zuarbeiten. I don't have to work today.

85. Office & School Supplies

compact disc

die Compact Disc

calculator

der Taschenrechner

floppy disk

die Diskette

eraser

der Radiergummi

document

das Dokument

notebook

das Heft

computer

der Computer

folder

das Prospekt

monitor

der Monitor

colored pencil

der Buntstift

keyboard

die Tastatur

ruler

das Lineal

mouse

die Maus

pencil sharpener

der Anspitzer (or Spitzer)

printer

der Drucker

pencil

der Bleistift

memo

die Mitteilung

pen

der Kuli

paper

das Papier

scissors

die Schere

photocopier

das Fotokopierer

glue

der Klebstoff

typewriter

die Schreibmaschine

binder

der Ordner

software

die Software

chalk

die Kreide

file / computer file

die Akten / die Datei

chalkboard

die Tafel

cabinet

der Schrank

backpack

der Rucksack

briefcase

die Aktentasche

stapler

die Heftmaschine

86. Expressions of Time

The accusative case is used to indicate definite time when
no preposition is used.

Time expressions with the prepositions an, in and vor are
in the dative case.

Wir müssen am Sonntag zurück. We must
return on Sunday.In der Nacht wird es kalt. It gets cold at night.Vor drei Jahren war es hier genau so kalt. Three years ago
it was just as cold here.

The genitive case is used to express indefinite time, and
may refer to the future or past.

Eines Tages war er krank. One day he was sick.Eines Morgens wird er zu spät kommen. One morning he'll
be late.

87. Travelling / Airport

Customs Office

das Zollamt

Airline Office

das Büro der Fluglinie

Travel Agency

das Reisebüro

Information Office

das Auskunftsbüro

Train Station

der Bahnhof (ö, e)

departure

die Abfahrt (en)

arrival

die Ankunft (ü, e)

flight tickets

die Flugkarten

baggage

das Gepäck

bag

die Tasche (-n)

suitcase

der Koffer (-)

passport

der Pass (ä, e)

left

links

right

rechts

next (to)

neben

near

bei

straight ahead

geradeaus

along the (noun)

(acc. noun +) entlang

over the (noun)

über (+ acc. noun)

past the (noun)

an (noun) vorbei

up to, as far as the (noun)

bis zu (noun)

across from the (noun)

gegenüber von (noun)

88. Another

Ein(e) ander- and noch ein- both mean another,
but they cannot be used interchangeably. Ein(e) ander- means
a different one, and ander- takes the adjective endings for adjectives
preceded by ein words. Noch ein means one more.

Sollen wir ein anderes Mal wiederkommen? Should
we come again at another (a different) time?

Möchtest du noch einen Raum anschauen? Would
you like to look at another (one more) room?

89. Cosmetics & Toiletries

toothbrush

die Zahnbürste

hair spray

der Haarfestiger

toothpaste

die Zahnpasta

hair dryer

der Fön

dental floss

die Zahnseide

nail polish

der Nagellack

hair brush

die Bürste

mascara

die Wimperntusche

comb

der Kamm

lipstick

der Lippenstift

shampoo

das Shampoo

powder

der Puder

curling iron

der Lockenstab

soap

die Seife

shaving cream

die Rasiercreme

makeup

die Schminke

razor

das Rasiermesser

perfume

das Parfüm

mousse

der Schaum

cologne

das Kölnisch Wasser

90. Subjunctive II or General Subjunctive
(Conditional)

This subjunctive mood is used to make statements that are
contrary to fact, instead of factual statements that are made in the indicative
mood. There are two forms of the German subjunctive: Subjunctive
II and Subjunctive I. Subjunctive II or the general subjunctive
is used with if...then (wenn... dann) statements and conditional
sentences. Subjunctive I or special subjunctive is a less common
mood that is used with indirect discourse. (If you study other languages
with a subjunctive mood, please don't confuse it with the German subjunctive.
They are not the same!)

The present tense of Subjunctive II is derived from
the simple past / imperfect tense of the indicative. For weak (regular)
verbs, the subjunctive II is the same as the simple past tense. For
strong (irregular) verbs, the present tense of the subjunctive II uses
the stem of the simple past, adds an umlaut where possible, and then adds
the following endings:

-e
-est
-e

-en
-et
-en

Strong verbs in the subjunctive II

gehen

fahren

fliegen

ginge
gingest
ginge

gingen
ginget
gingen

führe
führest
führe

führen
führet
führen

flöge
flögest
flöge

flögen
flöget
flögen

Sein, haben and werden in the subjunctive II

sein

haben

werden

wäre
wärest
wäre

wären
wäret
wären

hätte
hättest
hätte

hätten
hättet
hätten

würde
würdest
würde

würden
würdet
würden

Some exceptions include the mixed verbs, modals and wissen
which use the same endings as the simple past:

Imperfekt

Subjunctive II

brachte
dachte
durfte
konnte
mochte
sollte
wollte
mußte
wußte

brächte
dächte
dürfte
könnte
möchte
sollte
wollte
müßte
wüßte

The past tense of Subjunctive II is simply the subjunctive
II of sein or haben (whichever auxiliary the verb takes in the indicative)
and a past participle. The future tense of Subjunctive
II is the subjunctive
II of werden and an infinitive.

Conditional sentences
These sentences are based on an if... then (wenn... dann) pattern in both
English and German. Dann can be omitted in these sentences also.
Remember that wenn is a subordinating conjunction, and forces the
conjugated verb to the end of the clause.

Present Subj. II: Wenn ich Zeit hätte,
(dann) ginge ich ins Kino. If I had time, (then) I would
go to the movies.Past Subj. II: Wenn ich Zeit gehabt hätte, dann
wäre ich ins Kino gegangen. If I had had time,
(then) I would have gone to the movies.

Wenn clauses may be introduced by a verb, and in
this case, wenn disappears and dann may be replaced by so:

Forms of würden + an infinitive
Würde and an infinitive translates to would
+ infinitive and is
more common than the one word form in the dann clause. Wenn
clauses tend to avoid the würde construction, except with these
eight verbs: helfen, stehen, sterben, werfen, brennen, kennen, nennen,
and rennen. These eight verbs use the würde construction
in the wenn clause because the one word forms are archaic. Moreover,
conversational German tends to replace many subjunctive II forms of
strong verbs with the würde construction. However, this
construction is generally not used with the modal auxiliaries, wissen,
haben or sein.

1. Being Polite
To be more polite, use the subjunctive II
form of the modals.

Subjunctive II forms of modals

können

müssen

dürfen

sollen

wollen

mögen

ich

könnte

müsste

dürfte

sollte

wollte

möchte

du

könntest

müsstest

dürftest

solltest

wolltest

möchtest

er, sie, es

könnte

müsste

dürfte

sollte

wollte

möchte

wir

könnten

müssten

dürften

sollten

wollten

möchten

ihr

könntet

müsstet

dürftet

solltet

wolltet

möchtet

sie

könnten

müssten

dürften

sollten

wollten

möchten

Könnten sie mir bitte helfen? Could you please
help me?Dürfte ich Ihr Telefon benutzen? Could I use your phone?

In modern German, the subjunctive forms of mögen has
become almost a synonym of wollen. Was willst du? = What
do you want? Was möchtest du? = What would you like?

Hätte gern is also becoming common as a synonym
for "would like" especially when ordering food. Wir hätten gern
zwei Colas, bitte. = We would like two colas, please.

Note that these polite forms are only limited to the modal
verbs, sein, haben and werden. For this reason, you may hear Würden
Sie mir helfen? but never Hülfen Sie mir?

2. Expressing Wishes
The subjunctive II is also used to express wishes.
These phrases generally begin with "I wish" or "If only" in English. Wenn
(if) can be omitted from these statements, but then you must move the conjugated
verb in the subjunctive II to the place of wenn at the beginning of the
phrase. When expressing wishes, the present and past tenses
of the subjunctive II can be used.

Ich wünschte and ich
wollte (I wish) are fixed expressions
followed by the subjunctive II or würde + infinitive.
Another expression always followed by the subjunctive is an
deiner Stelle
(in your place / If I were you) when giving advice.

92. Subjunctive I or Special Subjunctive
(Indirect Discourse)

The Subjunctive I form is used with indirect discourse when
reporting what someone says in a formal, impartial way. The indicative
can also be used to imply a statement of fact, while the subjunctive II
can be used to imply the statement is open to question (since subjunctive
II is used with contrary to fact statements.) These three distinctions
are quite subtle, although they are important. In everyday conversation,
the tendency is to avoid the subjunctive I and to choose instead between
the indicative and subjunctive II.

The present tense of Subjunctive I is derived from
the present tense of the indicative and formed by adding the following
endings to the stem of the verb. Note that the subjunctive I forms
never have the stem vowel change found in their present indicative
counterparts (a does not become ä, e does not become ie, etc.)

-e
-est
-e

-en
-et
-en

Haben, werden and wissen in the subjunctive I

haben

werden

wissen

habe
habest
habe

haben
habet
haben

werde
werdest
werde

werden
werdet
werden

wisse
wissest
wisse

wissen
wisset
wissen

Notice that sein has no endings in the
ich and er forms:

sei
seiest
sei

seien
seiet
seien

The past tense of Subjunctive I is derived from the
present perfect tense of the indicative. It is composed of the
subjunctive I form of haben or sein and a past participle.
The future tense of Subjunctive I is simply the subjunctive I form of werden
and an infinitive.

Tenses
The tense used in an indirect quotation is dependent upon
the tense used in the direct quotation that underlies it. If the
direct quotation is in the present tense of the indicative, then the
indirect quotation must be in the present tense of the subjunctive
I. If
the direct quotation is in any tense referring to past time in the indicative
(simple past, present perfect, or past perfect), then the indirect
quotation is in the past tense of the subjunctive I.
Subjunctive I only has one tense when referring to past time,
as compared to the three tenses of the indicative. If the direct
quotation is in the future tense, then the future tense of subjunctive
I is used.
If the original quotation is in subjunctive II, then the
indirect quotation will also be in subjunctive II.

Tense in direct quotation

Tense in indirect quotation

present indicative

present subjunctive I

simple past, present perfect, past perfect indicative

past subjunctive I

future indicative

future subjunctive I

subjunctive II

subjunctive II

In certain cases, the subjunctive I forms and the indicative
forms are identical, so the subjunctive II forms must
be used instead.
Overall, you can use subjunctive I solely for the third person singular
form, and use subjunctive II forms for all other persons.

93. Parts of a Car

brake

die Bremse (n)

wheel

das Rad (ä, er)

horn

die Hupe (n)

car

der Wagen (-) / der PKW

hood

die Motorhaube (n)

traffic light

die Ampel (n)

flat tire

die Reifenpanne (n)

highway

die Autobahn (en)

gear

der Gang (ä, e)

intersection

die Kreuzung (en)

trunk

der Kofferraum (ä, e)

(one-way) street

die (Einbahn)straße (n)

tire

der Reifen (-)

pedestrian

der Fussgänger (-)

windshield wiper

der Scheibenwischer (-)

sidewalk

der Fussgängerweg (e)

seat belt

der Sicherheitsgurt (e)

traffic jam

der Stau (s)

seat

der Sitz (e)

ticket

der Strafzettel (-)

steering wheel

das Lenkrad (ä, er)

(traffic) sign

das (Verkehrs)schild (er)

parking space

die Parklücke (n)

license plate

das Nummernschild (er)

Der PKW is short for der Personenkraftwagen. Der
LKW is also
commonly used to mean truck. It is short for der Lastkraftwagen.

94. Present Participle

To form the present participle, simply add -d to the infinitive.
It usually functions as an adjective and takes the normal adjective
endings. It can also function as an adverb, but then of course,
it does not add any endings.

The conjunctions als wenn and als
ob are interchangeable;
they both mean "as if" or "as though." Both introduce a dependent
clause, so the conjugated verb must go to the end. In addition,
both require the subjunctive II.

The future perfect tense is comparable to the other perfect
tenses. It is formed with the future of haben or sein, and the past
participle. The future perfect deals with the future as if it were
already past time (he will have done it), or it is used to imply probability
(that was probably him.) The latter case commonly uses the past
tense in English though.

Er wirdgegangensein. He will
have gone.
Ich werde es genommenhaben. I will have taken
it.
Es wird dunkel gewordensein. It will have
become dark.
Das wird Rudi gewesensein. That will have
been Rudi. / That was probably Rudi.

When using modals, the future perfect tense can create the
double infinitive construction, so make sure to put the double infinitive
at the very end.

Die Uhr wird sehr viel gekostet habenmüssen.

99. Fantasy & Make-Believe

dragon

fairy

elf

giant

tower

knight

squire

court jester

minstrel

armor

dungeon

moat

castle

der Drache

die Fee

der Elf / die Elfe

der Riese

der Turm

der Ritter

der Edelknabe

der Hofnarr

der Minnesänger

die Rüstung

der Kerker

der Burggraben

das Schloß

unicorn

shield

sword

lance

ax

drawbridge

crown

king

queen

princess

prince

throne

das Einhorn

der Schild

das Schwert

die Lanze

die Axt

die Zugbrücke

die Krone

der König

die Königin

die Prinzessin

der Prinz

der Thron

100. Spelling Reform

Recently, there has been a spelling reform of the German
language. The following are a few points that have changed:

1. Write ss after a short vowel, and ß after a long
vowel or diphthong. Please note that ß is not used in Switzerland
or Liechtenstein and a lot of people don't pay attention to this rule
anyway. Also, there is no capital letter that corresponds to the
lower case ß, so it must be written as SS.

3. The forms of Du (familiar you) are no longer capitalized
in letters.

4. A comma is not necessary when two independent clauses
are joined by und.

Review of Declensions of Nouns

1) Feminine Singular nouns remain unchanged in all Singular cases.

Singular:

Typewriter

Street

Nom.

die Schreibmaschine

die Straße

Acc.

die Schreibmaschine

die Straße

Dat.

der Schreibmaschine

der Straße

Gen.

der Schreibmaschine

der Straße

2) All Neuter and most Masculine Singular add -s or -es (if one syllable)
to Genitive Singular.

Singular:

Shoe

Shirt

Nom.

der Schuh

das Hemd

Acc.

den Schuh

das Hemd

Dat.

dem Schuh

dem Hemd

Gen.

des Schuhes

des Hemdes

Note: The genitive singular of shoe is generally
written des Schuhs in colloquial German.

3) Masculine nouns that end in -e in Nom. Sing. and designate living
things add -n to form both Singular and Plural for all cases.

Lion(s)

Singular

Plural

Nom.

der Löwe

die Löwen

Acc.

den Löwen

die Löwen

Dat.

dem Löwen

den Löwen

Gen.

des Löwen

der Löwen

4) All Dative Plural either adds -n or -en.

Man

Woman

Child

Nom. Sing.

der Mann

die Frau

das Kind

Dat. Pl.

den Männern

den Frauen

den Kindern

5) In Plurals of all declensions of all genders, the Nominative, Genitive,
and Accusative Plural are the same.

Forest

Pear

Nom. Sing.

der Wald

die Birne

Nom. Pl.

die Wälder

die Birnen

Acc. Pl.

die Wälder

die Birnen

Dat. Pl.

den Wäldern

den Birnen

Gen. Pl.

der Wälder

der Birnen

To form the Dative Plural,add
-n or -en to the Nominative Plural, unless it already ends in -s or -n,
then add nothing.

Most singular declensions can be formed from the first three rules above,
but plural nouns are more complex and irregular. Some may add -n,
-en, -r, -er, -e, or an umlaut over the stem vowel with a final -e, and
some nouns do not change from singular to plural.

Group 1
-Singular follows rules
-Plural adds umlaut to stem vowel and -n to all datives

Father(s) (masc.)

Sing.

Plural

Nom.

der Vater

die Väter

Acc.

den Vater

die Väter

Dat.

dem Vater

den Vätern

Gen.

des Vaters

der Väter

Nouns belonging to this group: Most nouns
whose Nom. Sing. end in -el, -en, -er; and neuter nouns that begin with
Ge- and end with -e